EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HOW TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM A Personal and Overall Examination JOHN W. ANDERSON Executive Vice President With Mark Anderson, Legal and Legislative Assistant, NMBA speaking, giving interns reasonably challenging tasks and goals can lead to a much more fruitful program in the long run and will attract the best candidates possible. From both our research and our own experience, I will explore some general rules that can vastly improve your company’s internship program. Establish an Intern Program Coordinator It’s crucial to have someone in charge of building the program, to both guide it forward and to coordinate planning and implementation. Without someone in charge, there is a risk that the program will be rudderless and lack long-term planning. This position doesn’t need to be a separate full-time position, but can be taken on by someone within your organization. Often, individuals working within an organization can both coordinate the program and impart wisdom, knowledge and advice to the interns. Albuquerque Banker and NMBA Board Member Liz Earls, Capra Bank, has done much of the work of program coordinator for the NMBA, and her expertise and enthusiasm has been invaluable. Liz has both the knowledge and passion for the program to make her an ideal leader for it. Since 2018, we’ve had the chance to work with numerous dynamic young professionals, with several participants getting hired at financial institutions in the state. Ultimately, you want to find intelligent, capable interns who can use the program as a springboard for their professional career, and Liz has helped us mold our program into that. We would be remiss if we did also note the importance that Suzanne Mirabal of First National 1870, Trevor Lewis of Capra Bank and retired bankers Dennis Garcia, Silver Browne and Paul DiPaola have also meant to the early success of the program. Set Goals for Your Interns and Stay in Touch It’s important to set goals for your interns and track their progress throughout the period of the internship. Setting up one or two major projects can both be beneficial to your bank and Since 2018, the NMBA, with the assistance of University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management, has undertaken an annual internship program, allowing college graduates to get a foot in the door in the banking industry, supplying them with valuable experience and allowing prospective employers a chance to work with potential employees in a hands-on setting. The success of internship programs tends to be determined in the planning and implementation stages, allowing such programs to function smoothly once put into practice. This article will examine the elements of a successful internship program, both from the NMBA’s perspective and from a more holistic perspective. In setting up an internship program in its early stages, it is crucial to have a specific vision and concrete goals that your bank wants to achieve with the program. Setting up an internship program to have participants do grunt work may fulfill the immediate needs of a company, but oftentimes doesn’t lead to the long-term success of the program. Obviously, every bank is going to have its own specific needs, but, generally John Anderson and Dennis Garcia with the 2019 group of NMBA interns. 6
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